iPhone Upgrade Program FAQ: Everything you need to know

Considering joining Apple's new iPhone Upgrade Program when you pick up a new iPhone X? Here's everything you need to know before signing up.

What exactly is the iPhone Upgrade Program?

This is Apple's response to carrier deals that allow you to finance your phone for a set amount each month. The iPhone Upgrade Program lets you buy a new iPhone over the course of 24 payments; after 12 of those payments, you can automatically upgrade to the new iPhone—no hassle or extra fees required.

Previously, carriers offered you a set subsidy on your phone—somewhere between $300-$400 off—in return for signing a two-year contract; now, those subsidies are disappearing, being replaced instead with monthly plans from those carriers for paying off that expensive new iPhone. It makes sense that Apple got into the game.

For more information on the different options and ways to buy your iPhone in the U.S., check out our buying guide:

Wait, why does it make sense that Apple would get into this game?

In part, it frees users from having to be locked to a single carrier for two years: When you sign up for the Upgrade Program, you choose your new carrier (or continue with your current carrier plan); if, after twelve months, you dislike the plan, you can leave it and switch to a different carrier without the hassle of getting out of a carrier-specific two-year plan.

It also gets more people to buy iPhones every year, which, for Apple, is always a good thing, and to buy them through the Apple Store or online Apple Store.

What iPhone models are available?

You can only sign up for the iPhone Upgrade Program if you want to purchase an iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X. If it's an iPhone SE or older iPhone model you want, Apple is currently only offering a trade-in program.

Is it only available in the U.S.?

Not any more! Last year, Apple opened the iPhone Upgrade Program up to the UK and China as well. So far, no other countries appear to have an iPhone Upgrade Program at this time (Sorry Canada).

Oooh, AppleCare+ too? What does that cover and cost?

AppleCare+ is the company's iPhone-specific version of their popular AppleCare support service: It covers all the awesome telephone support and software advice that a regular AppleCare subscription does, and tacks on coverage for two accidental damage incidents.

Now, when I say "coverage," that really just means "option to pay $100 for a new iPhone after you drown your old one or $29 for a cracked screen." It's not a cheap repair—but it's much cheaper than if you broke your screen sans AppleCare+ (Take it from someone who only had to pony up $99 after drowning her fiancé's brand new iPhone 7 Plus).

Normally, AppleCare+ costs $129 for two years when you purchase your device; with the iPhone Upgrade Program, you get AppleCare+ as part of your monthly fee.

Okay! So how much is the program going to cost me per month?

Not too much! You'll only be paying $45.75 per month if you get the high-end, largest capacity iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone 8 plan starts at just $34.50 per month. Here's how it looks after 24 monthly installments.

iPhone 8 with AppleCare+

64GB: $34.50/mo ($828 total)

256GB: $40.75/mo ($978 total)

iPhone 8 Plus with AppleCare+

64GB: $39.50/mo ($948 total)

256GB: $45.75/mo ($1,098 total)

iPhone X with AppleCare+

64GB: $49.91 ($1,197.84 total)

256GB: $56.16 ($1,347.84 total)

Remember, the total price after two years includes AppleCare+ coverage.

How long do I pay this monthly fee?

When you sign up, you're contracted with Apple (and its loan partner, Citizens Bank) for 24 months (two years). You can upgrade to the next-generation iPhone after only 12 months of payment; when you do so, you're essentially renewing your 24-month hardware contract with Apple (and Citizens).

If you decide before the 24 months are up that you want out of the iPhone Upgrade Program, you will be required to pay the remainder of the cost of the iPhone and AppleCare+ and then the device is yours. AppleCare+ will be good for two years from the date you originally signed the iPhone Upgrade Program contract.

What do I need to sign up for it?

You'll need to have a valid U.S. credit card, (presumably) decent credit, and whomever is paying for it needs to be over the age of 18. This is because technically you're signing up for a 24-month interest-free loan from Citizens One—via Apple's retail stores—so you need all the bits and bobs a company would usually require for a financing deal. Citizens One will run a credit check to approve you for the loan.

Already enrolled? Get pre-approval for your next loan.

In order to expedite the process of getting your your new iPhone, Apple has implemented a pre-approval feature that is already underway for returning buyers currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade program.

If you're currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program, navigate to Apple.com and visit the iPhone section. Select the model, carrier, color, and capacity you want to upgrade to. When you get to the step where you're asked, "How would you like to pay?" select the iPhone Upgrade Program, and then select I'm already part of the program. You'll then begin the pre-approval process.

If you're just joining the iPhone Upgrade Program for the first time, Apple does not provide pre-aproval for the iPhone Upgrade Program. Instead, you'll have to go through the process during your pre-order stage on October 27. Don't worry, though. You won't be kicked to the back of the line while the approval process takes places. Your iPhone will be placed on hold for you until the process is complete.

A note about credit report pulls

There's been a lot of confusion about whether Apple does a hard or soft pull on your credit report to approve you for re-enrollment. That's because each candidate for a loan is different. Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program overview states:

Citizens One reserves the right to perform a credit inquiry as needed to determine loan eligibility. Depending on your account performance and transactional history in the iPhone Upgrade Program, Citizens One may approve your new loan application without your credit being affected.

Basically, Citizen One, the banking organization Apple works with to process loans, may only do a soft pull on your credit report if it considers your previous activities in the iPhone Upgrade Program to be in good standing. If, however, Citizen One deems it necessary to research further into your credit data, it might do a hard pull.

A note about credit freezes

If you've put a credit freeze on your credit report, there are a few things you should know about applying for your iPhone Upgrade Program loan.

A credit freeze is a way for you to restrict access to your credit report to protect you from identity theft. If you've put a freeze on your credit report, it doesn't affect your credit score or keep you from being able to apply for loans. There are some caveats though.

If you are already signed up with the iPhone Upgrade Program, Citizens One will still be able to access your credit report for a soft check. The Federal Trade Commission states:

Your report can be released to your existing creditors or to debt collectors acting on their behalf.

If you are joining the iPhone Upgrade Program for the first time, you can still have Citizens One run a credit check, but you'll want to first temporarily lift the freeze specifically for the credit report agency Citizen One will request your report from (either Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion), but there is a fee. The Federal Trade Commission states:

If you opt for a temporary lift because you are applying for credit or a job, and you can find out which credit reporting company the business will contact for your file, you can save some money by lifting the freeze only at that particular company.

The credit report agency must lift the freeze within three business days of your request.

To find out which agency Citizens One will request your report from, call them at 1-888-201-6306. If you are unable to get this information, you can temporarily lift the freeze for all three agencies, but you'll have to pay the fee for each one. Fees range in price from $5 to $10, but are different in each region.

Here are the numbers for the U.S. credit report agencies:

Equifax — 1-800-349-9960

Experian — 1‑888‑397‑3742

TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872

You'll need to provide your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and some other personal information.

Do I still have to sign a two-year carrier contract?

Nope! While you'll be required to choose a carrier when you sign up for the Upgrade Program, you're not locked in for two years with that carrier as you would be in the traditional subsidy program. And, if after twelve months you don't like the carrier you're with, you can ditch them and choose a new carrier with your new iPhone.

Currently, Apple works with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. At this time, you can't purchase a SIM-free iPhone through the iPhone Upgrade Program. After 12 months, if you decide to switch to a different carrier, you will be directed to choose from one of the four listed carriers.

Of course, in theory, the iPhone's Apple SIM should let you swap between networks at any time, but U.S. carriers have instantly locked that SIM in the past when you signed up for service so that you couldn't do so. Lame, carriers. Very lame. Worst-case, I suppose you may be able to switch by swapping out the iPhone's activated Apple SIM card with a different carrier's SIM.

Will the carriers punish me for getting a phone not through them?

Nope: To them, your iPhone looks just like an unlocked, prepaid phone on their network; that means you should get charged non-subsidy pricing, same as you would if you signed up with AT&T Next, Verizon's upgrade program, or any of those plans.

Okay, so how do I sign up?

You can either buy your iPhone online or head down to your local Apple Store and buy your iPhone in-person. If you'd like to make an in-store reservation, visit Apple's website, choose the iPhone X model (if available) and go from there.

Can I have two different iPhones on the iPhone Upgrade Program

You sure can. Each phone will have its only separate finance contract. So, keep in mind that you'll have to make two payments every month, even though they're going to the same place.

When and how exactly do I get a new iPhone after I start the Upgrade Program?

After you've been paying installments for 12 months, you can trade in your old iPhone for the next version. I recommend checking your eligibility first. If you're upgrading online, you'll be asked to sign a new 24-month contract and you'll have the option to trade your old iPhone in at an Apple Retail store in-person or have a Trade-in Kit mailed to you.

That said, there is a fun little loophole here, if you're the type that likes paying for things in advance. Once you've been part of the program for six months, you're eligible to upgrade as long as you pre-pay the next six payments (for a total of 12) before doing so. That means, if you wait to sign up for the iPhone Upgrade Program any time from October to March, you can still get a new iPhone 9 in September 2018 if you pre-pay six of those payments.

But I can't sign up next June when my current carrier contract runs out and get the next iPhone when it arrives in September, right?

Right. If you signed up in June 2017, the earliest you could get a new phone would be December of 2017 if you pre-paid for six months, or June of 2018 if you wait a year—best to wait until you're on the right hardware cycle.

What kind of condition does my old iPhone have to be in when I trade in?

For a Financed iPhone to be considered in good physical and operational condition, the Financed iPhone must:

Power on and hold a charge;

Have an intact and functioning display;

Have no breaks or cracks; and

Have Activation Lock disabled (you may be asked to disable at the time of upgrade).

If you've broken or otherwise shattered your iPhone, you'll need to pay the $99 AppleCare+ fee to fix it; if you're out of AppleCare+ incidents, you're required to pay the Apple Authorized Service charge (something in the realm of $200 the last time I had my phone fixed).

What if I lose my iPhone or it gets stolen?

Apple asks that you contact AppleCare at (800) 275-2273.

Does the 24-month contract reset when you get a new iPhone?

Yep! When you upgrade after 12 payments, you'll sign a new 24-month contract.

What if my iPhone doesn't arrive for a month after I ordered it?

It's not uncommon for your iPhone to take a few weeks to be delivered, especially if you upgrade right at the launch of a new iPhone. If you re-enroll in the iPhone Upgrade Program, your enrollment starts on the date of your order, not the date of your iPhone's arrival. This is to ensure that your upgrade cycle isn't thrown off because of delayed shipping.

Can I use this as a way to finance a new iPhone even if I don't want a new phone after a year?

Yup! You have the option to get a new iPhone after 12 payments, but you're not required to upgrade if you don't want to. After 24 months, you've essentially paid the full price of the device and AppleCare+, and it's yours to keep.

I pre-ordered a full-priced phone but now I want to go the Upgrade Program route! Can I do that on launch day?

Possibly, but it depends on Apple Store stock. Most likely, you'd need to return the phone you signed up for and replace it with one from Apple's Upgrade Program stock (which may or may not be available on launch day). If you've got FOMO and just have to have your iPhone on day-one, you might not want to risk trying to switch to the iPhone Upgrade Program after you've already per-ordered.

What if I pay the full 24 months, but decide to upgrade after two years?

That's not a problem. The iPhone you paid off in the iPhone Upgrade Program is yours to keep. You'll re-enroll with a new finance contract, but it'll feel like you never stopped (except that you now have two iPhones).

Other questions about the Upgrade Program?

Let us know and we'll try and sleuth them out.

Updated October 2017: Added information about the iPhone X, included more frequently asked questions, and included information about how Citizen One pulls your credit report. Clarified that pre-approval is only for those currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program.